DANBURY -- An alleged drug dealer led city police on a foot chase through a fast-food restaurant, across a busy street and into a home's backyard Tuesday after officers attempted to arrest him as he sold drugs, police said.

Ramon Cruz, 26, of Danbury, and Bernard Coleman, 27, of Brookfield, had been the subjects of a narcotics investigation by city police for several weeks before police attempted to serve search warrants on both men Tuesday afternoon as they sold drugs in the parking lot of Taco Bell on Main Street, police said.

When police converged on the two men shortly before 5 p.m., they quickly arrested Coleman and two of their alleged customers -- Gary Grandieri, 57, and Louis Montanaro, 56, both of Danbury.

Cruz fled, leading officers through the restaurant, across a Main Street busy with rush-hour traffic and into a backyard on the east side of the street, police said.

Cruz was arrested and he and Coleman were found in possession of what police called a "substantial quantity" of crack cocaine and several hundred dollars in cash.

Police said Cruz attempted to throw away his drug package during the chase, while Coleman had 42 bags of crack cocaine "secreted in the area of (his) buttocks."

Cruz and Coleman were each charged with drug offenses, including possession of crack cocaine with intent to sell. Cruz was also charged with interfering with a search warrant, destruction of evidence and interfering with the duties of a police officer.

The were arraigned in state Superior Court where a judge set Cruz's bond at $75,000 and Coleman's at $50,000.

Both men remain in custody pending April 23 court appearances.

Grandieri and Montanaro were each charged with possession of crack cocaine and released on written promises to appear in court at a later date.